Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in California
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division I athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in California26 schools
26 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in California.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division I (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 92% graduate
- 2Tie
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 93% graduate
- 2Tie
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 92% graduate
- 4
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 93% graduate
- 5
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 86% graduate
- 6
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 87% graduate
- 7
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 86% graduate
- 8
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 88% graduate
- 9
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 83% graduate
- 10
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · PublicHonor RollTop 7% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 86% graduate
- 11
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 9% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 79% graduate
- 12
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 76% graduate
- 13
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofitTop 7% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 83% graduate
- 14
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 84% graduate
- 15
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA · Private nonprofitTop 9% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 69% graduate
- 16
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · PublicExcellent: Compass grade A-
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 69% graduate
- 17
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofitTop 5% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 70% graduate
- 18
University of California-Riverside
Riverside, CA · PublicTop 13% for graduation
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 76% graduate
- 19
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA · PublicTop 8% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 69% graduate
- 20
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · PublicTop 7% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 70% graduate
- 21
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Private nonprofitTop 8% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 70% graduate
- 22
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · PublicTop 8% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 57% graduate
- 23
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 56% graduate
- 24
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · PublicTop 8% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 57% graduate
- 25
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA · PublicTop 5% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 50% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanford University | About $14,000 | $12,000 | $124,080 | 92% |
| University of California-Berkeley | About $13,000 | $13,000 | $92,446 | 93% |
| University of Southern California | About $33,000 | $18,000 | $92,498 | 92% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | About $13,000 | $14,000 | $82,511 | 93% |
| University of California-San Diego | About $12,000 | $15,500 | $84,943 | 86% |
| University of California-Irvine | About $14,000 | $15,000 | $80,735 | 87% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | About $17,000 | $18,500 | $90,768 | 86% |
| Santa Clara University | About $50,000 | $19,162 | $109,183 | 88% |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | About $16,000 | $13,993 | $74,915 | 83% |
| University of California-Davis | About $15,000 | $13,000 | $80,838 | 86% |
| Loyola Marymount University | About $48,000 | $19,500 | $78,349 | 79% |
| San Diego State University | About $15,000 | $15,000 | $64,909 | 76% |
| Pepperdine University | About $58,000 | $23,510 | $82,939 | 83% |
| University of San Diego | About $30,000 | $22,940 | $86,522 | 84% |
| University of the Pacific | About $25,000 | $19,500 | $78,445 | 69% |
| California State University-Long Beach | About $10,000 | $14,289 | $64,403 | 69% |
| University of San Francisco | About $41,000 | $23,000 | $89,812 | 70% |
| University of California-Riverside | About $14,000 | $17,500 | $67,699 | 76% |
| San Jose State University | About $14,000 | $15,000 | $78,988 | 69% |
| California State University-Fullerton | About $7,000 | $13,750 | $62,951 | 70% |
| Saint Mary's College of California | About $30,000 | $23,691 | $78,812 | 70% |
| California State University-Fresno | About $7,000 | $14,505 | $61,244 | 57% |
| California State University-Sacramento | About $9,000 | $15,000 | $64,876 | 56% |
| California State University-Northridge | About $7,000 | $13,872 | $59,115 | 57% |
| California State University-Bakersfield | About $6,000 | $16,600 | $59,009 | 50% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 5
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 6
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 14
- Georgia 6
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 13
- Indiana 11
- Iowa 4
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 8
- Louisiana 12
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 9
- Michigan 7
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 8
- New York 23
- North Carolina 19
- Ohio 13
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 4
- Pennsylvania 15
- Rhode Island 4
- South Carolina 12
- Tennessee 12
- Texas 26
- Utah 7
- Virginia 14
- Washington 5
- Wisconsin 4